Darwen Baroness Helps Bring Important Changes to Child
Poverty Bill
Tuesday 9th Mar 2010 14:22:32

A Darwen born Labour peer has
been praised by a national family charity group for
her role in bringing about important changes to the Child
Poverty Bill
Thanks to the help of Baroness Massey, of Darwen,
amendments have been made to the Bill that recognise the
needs of children who are being brought up by grandparents or
other relatives.
This means that the term ‘parent’ will now apply
to any individual who has parental responsibilities in caring
for a child.
The
Child Poverty Bill which is set to become law this month
aims to wipe out child poverty.
Cathy
Ashley, Chief Executive of Family Rights Group, said that
research shows that 75% of family and friend carers experience
real financial hardship.and that by requiring the
Government and local authorities to include these very
vulnerable children and carers in their data collection and
offer services aimed at addressing the needs of impoverished
children.She added: “We would like to thank Baroness Massey
for her tenacity and tireless efforts to get the
Government to listen.”We at Gap also thank
her.